Wire stripper

ABSTRACT

A coaxial wire stripper including a body having an opening through which a wire is extended, a blade being positioned transverse to the opening and resiliently biased toward it by a spring-pressed pivotal arm, a member adjacent the body being selectively indexable to position different stops adjacent the pivotal arm to limit its movement to control the stroke of the blade toward the wire, and hence the depth of the cut, this member also including axially adjustable abutments engageable by the end of the wire for controlling the amount of wire exposed past the blade, and hence the position of the cut in the wire.

ilnited States Patent Fischer [451 Apr. 24, 1973 WIRE STRIPPER [75]Inventor: Milton G. Fischer, Banning, Calif. PrWmry Exam" 1er GranvmeCuster Assistant Examiner-Roscoe V. Parker [73] Assignee: The DeutschCompany Electronic AtzorneyGausewitz, Carr and Rothenb'erg ComponentsDivision, Banning, Calif. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 25, 1971 Acoaxial wire stripper including a body having an opening through which awire is extended, a blade [211 App! 156763 being positioned transverseto the opening and resiliently biased toward it by a spring-pressedpivotal 52 US. Cl ..30/90.1 a member adjacent the y being selectively[51] Int. Cl. ..ll02g l/12 dexable to Position different Stops adjacentthe Pivotal 58 Field of Search ..81/9.5 R, 9.51; am to limit itsmovement to Control the Stroke of the 30/90] blade toward the wire, andhence the depth of the cut,

this member also including axially adjustable abut- [56] ReferencesCited ments engageable by the end of the wire for controlling the amountof wire exposed past the blade, UNITED STATES PATENTS and hence theposition of the cut in the wire.

1,867,712 7/1932 Reitzig ..81/9.51 16 Claims, 15 Drawing FiguresPatented April 24, 1973 7 3,728,789

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I 49 INVENTOR MILTON G. FISCHER BY M 1 iw kATTORNEYS Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,789

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. l2

g} g; INVENTOR MILTON G. FISCflgR FIG.8

AT TORHEYS Patented April 24, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. l0

I'NVENTOR MILTON e. FISCHER I ATTORNEYS Patented April 24, 19733,728,789

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MILTON G. FIKLHER ATTORNEYS WIRE STRIPPER BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention pertains to a wirestripper.

2. Description of Prior Art Preparation of coaxial wires by strippingtheir ends presents unique problems which have not been solvedsatisfactorily in the past. Wires of this type require three individualstripping steps so as to expose progressively predetermined lengths ofits different components. Wire strippers designed in the past foraccomplishing the necessary stripping operations for coaxial wire havebeen invariably bulky, complex and expensive. They are difficult to useand give imprecise results. The lengths of the exposed portions of thewire are difficult to control. Also, it cannot always be assured thatthe cutting of the layer of the wire is closely controlled. Under suchcircumstances, there may be damage to one of the conductors or to theinsulation if a cut is made too deep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved wirestripper for coaxial wire, which overcomes the problems of the past. Itis a simple, low-cost, lightweight device, easily operated, yetproviding superior results. The device is readily adjustable toaccommodate wires of different sizes and to expose the various layers ofthe wire in desired lengths.

The wire stripper of this invention includes a body which has an openingextending longitudinally through it, adapted to receive a wire. At oneend of the body is a flat blade guided for movement transverse to theopening. The blade is engaged by one end of a pivotal arm, the oppositeend of which is biased by a compression spring to rotate the arm in adirection such that it urges the blade toward the opening in the body.Outwardly of the blade is a member which can be indexed in variouspredetermined rotational positions with respect to the body. Thisindexing member carries a plurality of radially aligned spaced screwswhich are individually positionable adjacent the end of the pivotal armto terminate its rotational movement. This, in turn, controls the strokeof the blade relative to the opening that supports the wire. The screwscan be repositioned by rotation to adjust the stroke of the blade.

An additional stop arrangement is provided for axially positioning thewire to control the position of the cut. This includes a plurality ofscrews threadably carried by the indexing member, these screws beingindividually positionable in alignment with the opening at thepredetermined rotational positions of the indexing element. The threadsof these additional screws permit their axial positioning relative tothe opening to be controlled. The end of the wire is brought intoengagement with the head of the selected screw to establish the lengthofthe wire beyond the location of the cut.

In operation of the device, the wire is extended through the opening,and its end is engaged by one of the positioning screws. The pivotal armis released so that the spring biases the arm rotationally which, inturn, moves the blade into engagement with the periphery of the wire.The body then is rotated around the wire, which causes the blade toprogressively cut through the wire radially to the predetermineddistance, at which time the end of the arm engages the stop screw andterminates the travel of the blade. The indexing member then isrepositioned such that the wire can be extended further beyond theopening to engage a second positioning screw. Again, the pivotal arm isreleased and the blade engages the periphery of the wire to sever aportion of it radially as the body is rotated around the wire. The stopscrew for the pivotal arm limits the travel of the blade to a shorterdistance so that less of the wire will be cut in this operation. In thismanner, through successive settings of the indexing member, a series ofradial cuts may be made in the wire, each of controlled depth and at aselected position along the length of the wire. This allows successivelayers of the wire to be removed, each without damage to the one beneathit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe wire stripper of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the wire stripper;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken at the opposite end from that ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4of FIG. 2;

FIG. Sis a perspective view of the tube which may be used in supportingwires of smaller sizes;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the blade of the wire stripper;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the means for retainingthe blade;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 1010 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 11-11of FIG. 6, with the blade omitted for clarity;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a wire which has been stripped by thetool of this invention; and

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 are fragmentary views illustrating the successivesteps in stripping a coaxial cable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wire stripper of thisinvention includes a body 10, appropriately made of plastic material,which may have a cylindrical exterior shape. At the lower portion of thebody 10, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is a cylindrical opening 11, whichextends for the length of the body parallel toits axis. The opening 11may receive a tube 12 which at one end has a head 13 with a radialrecess 14 on its periphery. The undersurface of the head of a screw 15engages the head 13 of the tube 12 at the recess 14, thereby holding thetube 12 in the opening 11 (see FIGS.3and 5).

The upper portion of the body includes a slot 16 that extendslongitudinally from the forward end 17 of the body to the rearward end18. The sidewalls 19 and 20 of the slot 16 are parallel and straddle aplane diametrical relative to the body. The bottom wall 21 of the slot16 slopes toward the rearward end of the body, so that the slot 16 isdeeper at the rearward end than at the forward end.

Received within the slot 16 is a handle 22 which is pivotally mounted ona pin 23 that extends transversely of the body through the slot 16 andthe side portions of the handle 22. One end of a compression spring 24bears against the undersurface of the elongated rearward portion of thehandle 22, where it is centered by a boss 25. The opposite end of thespring 24 is received in a radial cylindrical opening 26 at the base ofthe slot 16, which holds and positions the spring 24, as seen in FIG. 4.I

The relatively short forward end 27 of the handle 22 projects beyond theforward end 17 of the body 10. This portion of the handle is arcuate incross section and extends through a generally semicircular opening 28 ina blade 29. The latter member, shown by itself in FIG. 7, is a thin,flat blade generally resembling the type used in safety razors. Ashallow diametrical recess at the forward end 17 of the body 10, havingparallel side edges 30 and 31 and a flat inner face 32, receives andguides the blade 29. With the forward end 27 of the handle 22 beingreceived in the opening 28 in the blade 29, the blade will move withinits recess, in a path normal to the axis of the opening 11, in responseto movement of the handle 22. The compression spring 24 biases thehandle 22 in a counterclockwise direction as the device is illustrated,which urges the blade 29 downwardly. In such position of the blade 29,its lower sharpened edge 33 is immediately adjacent the forward end ofthe longitudinal opening 11 in the body 10, and intersects acontinuation of the opening.

A longitudinal tapped opening 34, extending inwardly from the forwardend 17 of the body above and parallel to its longitudinal axis, receivesthe threaded end of a stud 35. A snap ring 36 in an annular groove 37 inthe stud 35, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 8, bears against oneend of a spacer 38. The latter member is of reduced diameter at itsopposite end, with an intermediate radial shoulder 39. The smaller endof the washer 38 engages the inner surface 32 of the recess for theblade. The blade 29 has a longitudinally enlarged opening 40 throughwhich passes the stud 35 and the smaller inner end of the spacer washer38, while the radial shoulder 39 of the washer holds the blade in itsrecess.

The stud 35 extends through a generally complementary axial opening 41in a member 42 positioned at the forward end of the body 10. The outerend of the stud 35 is within a counterbore 43 that extends inwardly fromthe outer end 44 of the member 42. A nut 45 is received on the outer endof the stud 35, a compression spring 46 being positioned between theundersurface of the nut 45 and the inner radial wall 47 of thecounterbore 43. Therefore, the force of the compression spring 46 biasesthe member 42 to the right, as illustrated, to urge its inner endsurface 48 against the forward end 17 ofthe body 10.

The exterior of the member 42, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, is of steppedconfiguration defined by a series of concentric circumferential surfaces49 of equal lengths, progressively decreasingin diameter from the outerend 44 to the inner end 48 of the member 42. Adjacent the end 48, thecircumferential wall of the -member 42 is cut away to provide fourlongitudinally extending surfaces 50, 51, 52 and 53, which are spacedprogressively farther from the longitudinal axis of the member 42.Radial tapped holes 54, 55, 56 and 57 extend inwardly from the surfaces50, 51, 52 and 53, respectively, and receive screws 58, 59, 60 and 61.

An indexing arrangement is provided, whereby the member 42 may assumefour predetermined rotational positions relative to the body 10. Twopins 63 and 64 project longitudinally from the forward face 17 of thebody 10 on opposite sides of the blade recess. In the end 48 of themember 42 are three angularly spaced longitudinal openings 65, 66 and 67which are dimensioned to receive the pins 63 and 64. In two of thepredetermined positions, the pin 63 is received in the opening and theopening 66. The other pin 64 then clears the end wall 48 of the member42. In the other two positions of the member, the pin 64 enters theopenings 66 and 67, while the pin 63 is not in use. Movement from onerotational position to the other is accomplished by pulling outwardly onthe member 42, compressing the spring 46 and freeing the pin 63 or 64from the opening which receives it. The member 42 then may be rotated tothe desired position where the pin 63 or 64 may enter one of theopenings 65, 66 and 67. The compression spring 46 normally holds themember 42 against axial movement relative to the body 10 so that it doesnot disengage the indexing pin.

In the four predetermined angular positions of the member 42, each ofthe four flat longitudinal surfaces 50, 51, 52 and 53 becomes locatedselectively at the upper side of the member 42 adjacent and aligned withthe forward end 27 of the handle 22. This permits any one of the screws58, 59, 60 and 61 to be positioned adjacent the forward end 27 of thehandle. When so located, the selected screw is engaged by the forwardend 27 of the handle 22 when the handle is at the end of its travel inthe counterclockwise direction as urged by the spring 24. In otherwords, any one of the screws 58, 59, 60 and 61 can serve as a stop tolimit the angular movement of the handle 22. This, in turn, governs thestroke of the blade'29, because the travel of the blade is determined bythat of the handle 22. The screws 58, 59, 60 and 61 normally are set atdifferent distances from the axis of the member 42 so that they willresult in four different limiting positions for the blade 29. Of course,during indexing of the member 42, the rearward end of the handle 22 iscompressed inwardly to raise its forward end 27 so that it willclear thescrews 58, 59, 60 and 61, and their adjacent flat surfaces 50, 51, 52and 53 as the member 42 is repositioned.

Secured to the outer end 44 of the member 42 by means of screws 69 and70 is a generally crescentshaped member 71 which is provided with tappedopenings that receive four screws 72, 73, 74 and 75. These screws areparallel to the longitudinal axis of the member 42 and the body 10. Thescrews 72, 73, 74 and are angularly spaced on the member 71 andpositioned so that they are selectively alignable with the axis of thecylindrical opening 11 through the body 10 at the indexed positions ofthe member 42. In other words, at each of the four predeterminedrotational positions of the member 42, one of the screws 72, 73, 74 and75 will be located directly beyond the opening 11. The screw 72 isaligned with the opening 11 when the stop screw 58 is positionedadjacent the end 27 of the handle 22. The operative positions of thescrews 73, 74 and 75 correspond to those of the screws 59, 60 and 61,respectively.

The heads 76, 77, 78 and 79 of the respective screws 72, 73, 74 and 75present flat radial surfaces adjacent the end of the opening 11 when intheir indexed positions. The axial positions of the screws 72, 73, 74and 75 may be adjusted by loosening jam nuts 80, 81, 82 and 83 andappropriately rotating the screws relative to the member 71. The nuts80, 81, 82 and 83, when tightened, maintain the adjusted positions ofthe screws.

In operation of the wire stripper, a wire is inserted into the opening11 to have successive cuts made in its periphery by the blade 29. Thestop screws 76, 77, 78 and 79 are used as abutments to position the wireaxially relative to the blade, while the screws 58, 59, 60 and 61provide abutments that establish the travel of the blade for the cuts tobe made. Three cuts are necessary in stripping a coaxial cable. Foursets of stops are included, however, in order to enable the wirestripper to accommodate the full range of commercially available coaxialcable sizes. The three stop screws 58, 59 and 60 which allow for maximumblade travel are used in stripping coaxial cable of smaller diameter.For larger coaxial cable, less blade movement is required so that stopscrews 59, 60 and 61 are utilized.

A typical coaxial cable 85 is shown in FIG. 12, having a centerconductor 86, a layer of insulation 87 around this conductor, and abraid shield 88 around the insulation 87. On the outside is a coveringof insulation 89. The wire 85 is to be prepared so that the centerconductor 86 has an exposed portion of a predetermined length at the endof the wire, with the shield 88 being exposed for a predetermined lengthbeyond the outer insulation 89, and trimmed so as to expose a certainlength of the insulation 87.

The wire 85 in the example shown is within the range of larger sizedcoaxial cables. Therefore, the stop screws 59, 60 and 61 are used toestablish the stroke of the blade 29. These stop screws are used inconjunction with the wire-positioning screws 73, 74 and 75. In settingthe stops, the screw 73 is adjusted so that the outer end of its head 77is spaced from the blade 29 a distance corresponding to the desiredexposed length of the inner conductor 86. This adjustment is easilyaccomplished because of the stepped outer configuration of the member42, which has separate circumferential portions 49 that provide visiblelines of demarcation at predetermined distances. Typically, each of thecircumferential parts 49 is one-sixteenth inch in length. With the screw73 positioned properly, the corresponding stop screw 59 for the handle22 is set to allow a predetermined relatively long stroke of the blade29.

The stop screw 74 is adjusted so that the outer surface ofits head 78 isa distance from the blade 29 which corresponds to the combined exposedlengths of the inner conductor 86 and the inner insulation 87. The

stop screw 60 for the handle 22, which comes into operation when thescrew 74 is in use, is adjusted to permit a shorter stroke of the blade29 than that permitted by the screw 59.

Finally, the screw 75 is positioned so that its head 79 is spaced fromthe blade 29 a distance equal to the combined desired lengths of theexposed inner conductor 86, inner insulation 87 and the braid shield 88.The stop screw 61, which is used in conjunction with the screw 75, ispositioned so that the blade has a predetermined stroke less than eitherof the other set strokes of the blade.

The member 42 is rotationally positioned so that, initially, the stopscrew 73 is aligned with the opening 11 and the stop screw 59 ispositioned beneath the end 27 of the handle 22. The tube 12 is omittedin this instance because the cable 85 is not one of the smaller sizes.The handle 22 is depressed, and the wire 85 is inserted into the opening11 in the body 10 and extended outwardly until its end engages the head77 of the screw 73, as shown in FIG. 13, positioning the wire axiallyrelative to the blade 29. Than the handle 22 is released, and the spring24 is allowed to bias it in a counterclockwise direction, asillustrated. This moves the cutting edge 33 of the blade 29 downwardlyto engage the periphery of the wire 85. The blade bears against the wire85 with a predetermined force resulting from the spring rate and themechanical advantage of the pivotally mounted handle 22. With the blade29 so engaging the wire' 85, the entire wire stripper assembly isrotated around the wire 85. This causes the blade 29 to cut through theouter insulation89, the braid shield 88 and the inner conductor 87. Whenset properly, the screw 59 stops the handle 22 in a position where thecutting edge 33 of the blade 29 is adjacent but not touching theperiphery of the conductor 86. The periphery of the opening 11 supportsthe wire 85 in a fixed position laterally so that the blade can beadjusted to penetrate the wire 85 to a precise depth. With the force onthe blade 29 established by the spring 24, the cut is gradual, and thematerial of the wire 85 is severed cleanly. All the material around theinner conductor 86 is cut radially by this operation, and the severedportion easily is pulled off the end of the inner conductor. The wire 85is fully supported during the cutting operation by its engagement withthe wall of the opening 1 1 opposite from the blade.

For the next operation, the member 42 is rotated relative to the body 10to bring the screw 74 into alignment with the opening 11. The handle 22is depressed; the wire 85 is repositioned axially by extending itfarther beyond the body 10 so that its end engages the head 78 of thescrew 74. Then the handle is released to enable the spring 24 to movethe blade 29 inwardly to re-engage the wire 85. Again, the wire stripperassembly is rotated around the wire, and the blade makes its cut. Thistime, the handle end 27 is stopped by the screw 60, so that the handle22 moves the blade through a shorter increment such that it penetratesthe outer insulation 89 and the braid shield 88, stopping at the outersurface of the inner insulator 87. The separated portion of the wire 85beyond the blade 29 is readily removed following the second cut.

For the third and final operation, the screw is positioned in alignmentwith the opening 11, which positions the screw 61 beneath the end 27 ofthe handle 22. With the handle depressed, the wire is extended so thatits end engages the head 79 of the screw 75, following which thehandleis released so that the spring 24 moves the blade inwardly againstthe wire. Rotation of the wire stripper around the wire causes the blade29 to cut the outer layer of insulation 89, while the screw 61 stops themovement of the blade at the outer surface of the braid shield 88. Thiscompletes the wire stripping operation as the severed portion of theinsulation 89 is slipped off the end of the wire.

The entire wire stripping operation is accomplished quite rapidlythrough very simple operations. The results are superior as the variouscuts are made to precise lengths and depths. Proper settings are readilymade and assure that the wire is undamaged after the strippingoperation. The wire stripper is compact in size and economicallymanufactured, while being easily manipulated.

When smaller sizes of coaxial cables are being stripped, the extension90 of the tube 12, which is a segment of the tube, provides a supportdirectly in alignment with the blade 29. This is needed because thesmaller wires are less rigid than those of larger size. The recess 14 inthe flange 13 of the tube 12, engaged by the head of the screw 15,indexes the tube so that the inner wall of the extension 90 is oppositefrom the blade 29.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A wire stripper comprising a blade,

guide means for said blade for permitting movement thereofin apredetermined path,

resilient means biasing said blade in one direction in saidpredetermined path,

stop means for limiting the movement of said blade in said onedirection, said stop means including a plurality of elementsindividually positionable in operative relationship with said blade forso limiting said movement of said blade, said elements beingindividually adjustable for permitting successive strokes of said bladeof different distances in said predetermined path,

lateral wire support means adjacent said blade such that a wiresupported thereby is engageable by said blade upon said movement of saidblade in said one direction, and wire positioning means for axiallypositioning such a wire relative to said blade, said wire positioningmeans including a plurality of elements individually positionableadjacent said lateral wire support means for individual engagementthereof by a wire for so axially positioning the same, said elements ofsaid wire positioning means being individually adjustable forpositioning such a wire at different axial positions relative to saidblade.

2. A device as recited in claim I in which said resilient means biasingsaid blade in one direction includes a member engaging said blade forcausing said blade to move therewith,

means pivotally mounting said member,

and a spring engaging said member and biasing said member pivotally in adirection in which said member biases said blade in said one direction.

3. A device as recited in claim 2 in which said member is pivotal in theopposite direction in opposition to said spring for moving said blade ina direction opposite to said one direction.

4. A wire stripper comprising a blade, guide means for said blade forpermitting movement thereof in a predetermined path, resilient meansbiasing said blade in one direction in said predetermined path, saidresilient means including a member engaging said blade for causing saidblade to move therewith, means pivotally mounting said member, and aspring engaging said member and biasing said member pivotally in adirection in which said member biases said blade in said one direction,stop means for limiting the movement of said blade in said onedirection, said stop means including a rotatable element, and aplurality of angularly spaced abutment means onsaid rotatable element,said abutment means being adjustable for varying the distances thereoffrom the axis of rotation of said rotatable element, said abutment meansupon rotation of said rotatable element being individually positionableadjacent said member for engagement thereby upon said pivotal movementof said member in said one direction, for thereby limiting the pivotalmovement of said member and the distance of the stroke said memberimparts to said blade,

lateral wire support means adjacent said blade such that a wiresupported thereby is engageable by said blade upon said movement of saidblade in said one direction, and wire positioning means for axiallypositioning such a wire relative to said blade,

said wire positioning means being adjustable for positioning such a wireat different axial positions relative to said blade.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said abutment means includesa plurality of threaded members, said rotatable element having generallyradial openings threadably receiving said threaded members, saidthreaded members having outer surfaces engageable by said pivotal memberwhen positioned adjacent said pivotal member.

6. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said wire positioning meansincludes a plurality of additional abutments spaced outwardly from saidwire support means,

said additional abutments being individually positionable adjacent saidwire support means for engagement by the end of a wire supported by saidwire support means,

said additional abutments being adjustable for varying the distancesthereof from said blade when so positioned in adjacency with said wiresupport means for thereby adjusting the axial position of a wire soengaged thereby relative to said blade.

7. A device as recited in claim 6 in which said additional abutments arecarried by said rotatable element.

8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said wire support meansincludes a body having an elongated opening therein adapted to receive awire,

said opening having an end adjacent said blade for permitting a wire tobe projected beyond said end for engagement by said blade.

9. A device as recited in claim Sin which said additional abutmentsinclude a plurality of substantially parallel additional threadedmembers,

said rotatable element threadably receiving said additional threadedmembers,

said additional threaded members being individually positionable inaxial alignment with said opening in said body upon predeterminedrotational positioning of said rotatable element.

10. A device as recited in claim 9 including indicia on the exterior ofsaid rotatable element for facilitating the adjustment of saidadditional threaded members relative thereto.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 in which for said indicia saidrotatable element has a plurality of individual circumferential segmentson the outer periphery thereof, said segments being of predeterminedlength and interconnected to provide a stepped exterior for saidrotatable element.

12. A wire stripper device comprising a body,

said body having an opening extending from a first end to a second endthereof,

a flat blade,

said first end having a recess therein receiving said blade for guidingthe same in a path transverse to said opening,

a lever,

means pivotally connecting said lever to said body,

said blade having an opening therethrough, one end portion of said leveron one side of said pivotal connecting means extending through saidopening in said blade, whereby pivotal movement of said lever causesmovement of said blade toward or away from said opening in said body,

a spring engaging said lever on the opposite side of said pivotalconnecting means and biasing said lever in one pivotal direction so asto urge said blade toward said opening in said body,

a rotatable means,

means rotatably mounting said rotatable means adjacent said first end ofsaid body,

a plurality of first threaded members carried by said rotatable means,

means for indexing said rotatable means so as to selectively hold thesame in different predetermined rotational positions relative to saidbody, one of said first threaded members being positioned adjacent saidone end portion of said lever in each of said predetermined rotationalpositions for engagement by said one end portion and limiting saidmovement of said lever in said one pivotal direction, thereby limitingsaid movement of said blade toward said opening in said body, each ofsaid first threaded members being adjustable in position for adjustingthe limit of said movement of said lever in said one direction, and aplurality of second threaded members carried by said rotatable means, Ione of said second threaded members being positioned substantially inalignment with said opening in said body in each of said predeterminedrotational positions for engagement by the end of a wire extendingthrough said opening in said body for thereby axially positioning saidwire,

said second threaded members being adjustable in position for varyingthe axial position of said wire.

13. A device as recited in claim 12 in which said indexing meansincludes at least one pin projecting outwardly from said one end of saidbody,

the adjacent face of said rotatable means having a plurality of openingseach of which is adapted to receive said pin in a predeterminedrotational position of said rotatable means,

and resilient means biasing said rotatable means toward said one end ofsaid body for normally holding said pin in one of said openings in saidrotatable means.

14. A device as recited in claim 13 in which there are four of saidfirst threaded members and four of said second threaded members forproviding a substantially large range of adjustments.

15. A device as recited in claim 14 including in addition a tubepositionable in said opening in said body for supporting wires ofrelatively small sizes.

1. A wire stripper comprising a blade, guide means for said blade forpermitting movement thereof in a predetermined path, resilient meansbiasing said blade in one direction in said predetermined path, stopmeans for limiting the movement of said blade in said one direction,said stop means including a plurality of elements individuallypositionable in operative relationship with said blade for so limitingsaid movement of said blade, said elements being individually adjustablefor permitting successive strokes of said blade of different distancesin said predetermined path, lateral wire support means adjacent saidblade such that a wire supported thereby is engageable by said bladeupon said movement of said blade in said one direction, and wirepositioning means for axially positioning such a wire relative to saidblade, said wire positioning means including a plurality of elementsindividually positionable adjacent said lateral wire support means forindividual engagement thereof by a wire for so axially positioning thesame, said elements of said wire positioning means being individuallyadjustable for positioning such a wire at different axial positionsrelative to said blade.
 2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which saidresilient means biasing said blade in one direction includes a memberengaging said blade for causing said blade to move therewith, meanspivotally mounting said member, and a spring engaging said member andbiasing said member pivotally in a direction in which said member biasessaid blade in said one direction.
 3. A device as recited in claim 2 inwhich said member is pivotal in the opposite directiOn in opposition tosaid spring for moving said blade in a direction opposite to said onedirection.
 4. A wire stripper comprising a blade, guide means for saidblade for permitting movement thereof in a predetermined path, resilientmeans biasing said blade in one direction in said predetermined path,said resilient means including a member engaging said blade for causingsaid blade to move therewith, means pivotally mounting said member, anda spring engaging said member and biasing said member pivotally in adirection in which said member biases said blade in said one direction,stop means for limiting the movement of said blade in said onedirection, said stop means including a rotatable element, and aplurality of angularly spaced abutment means on said rotatable element,said abutment means being adjustable for varying the distances thereoffrom the axis of rotation of said rotatable element, said abutment meansupon rotation of said rotatable element being individually positionableadjacent said member for engagement thereby upon said pivotal movementof said member in said one direction, for thereby limiting the pivotalmovement of said member and the distance of the stroke said memberimparts to said blade, lateral wire support means adjacent said bladesuch that a wire supported thereby is engageable by said blade upon saidmovement of said blade in said one direction, and wire positioning meansfor axially positioning such a wire relative to said blade, said wirepositioning means being adjustable for positioning such a wire atdifferent axial positions relative to said blade.
 5. A device as recitedin claim 4 in which said abutment means includes a plurality of threadedmembers, said rotatable element having generally radial openingsthreadably receiving said threaded members, said threaded members havingouter surfaces engageable by said pivotal member when positionedadjacent said pivotal member.
 6. A device as recited in claim 4 in whichsaid wire positioning means includes a plurality of additional abutmentsspaced outwardly from said wire support means, said additional abutmentsbeing individually positionable adjacent said wire support means forengagement by the end of a wire supported by said wire support means,said additional abutments being adjustable for varying the distancesthereof from said blade when so positioned in adjacency with said wiresupport means for thereby adjusting the axial position of a wire soengaged thereby relative to said blade.
 7. A device as recited in claim6 in which said additional abutments are carried by said rotatableelement.
 8. A device as recited in claim 7 in which said wire supportmeans includes a body having an elongated opening therein adapted toreceive a wire, said opening having an end adjacent said blade forpermitting a wire to be projected beyond said end for engagement by saidblade.
 9. A device as recited in claim 8 in which said additionalabutments include a plurality of substantially parallel additionalthreaded members, said rotatable element threadably receiving saidadditional threaded members, said additional threaded members beingindividually positionable in axial alignment with said opening in saidbody upon predetermined rotational positioning of said rotatableelement.
 10. A device as recited in claim 9 including indicia on theexterior of said rotatable element for facilitating the adjustment ofsaid additional threaded members relative thereto.
 11. A device asrecited in claim 10 in which for said indicia said rotatable element hasa plurality of individual circumferential segments on the outerperiphery thereof, said segments being of predetermined length andinterconnected to provide a stepped exterior for said rotatable element.12. A wire stripper device comprising a body, said body having anopening extending from a first end to a secoNd end thereof, a flatblade, said first end having a recess therein receiving said blade forguiding the same in a path transverse to said opening, a lever, meanspivotally connecting said lever to said body, said blade having anopening therethrough, one end portion of said lever on one side of saidpivotal connecting means extending through said opening in said blade,whereby pivotal movement of said lever causes movement of said bladetoward or away from said opening in said body, a spring engaging saidlever on the opposite side of said pivotal connecting means and biasingsaid lever in one pivotal direction so as to urge said blade toward saidopening in said body, a rotatable means, means rotatably mounting saidrotatable means adjacent said first end of said body, a plurality offirst threaded members carried by said rotatable means, means forindexing said rotatable means so as to selectively hold the same indifferent predetermined rotational positions relative to said body, oneof said first threaded members being positioned adjacent said one endportion of said lever in each of said predetermined rotational positionsfor engagement by said one end portion and limiting said movement ofsaid lever in said one pivotal direction, thereby limiting said movementof said blade toward said opening in said body, each of said firstthreaded members being adjustable in position for adjusting the limit ofsaid movement of said lever in said one direction, and a plurality ofsecond threaded members carried by said rotatable means, one of saidsecond threaded members being positioned substantially in alignment withsaid opening in said body in each of said predetermined rotationalpositions for engagement by the end of a wire extending through saidopening in said body for thereby axially positioning said wire, saidsecond threaded members being adjustable in position for varying theaxial position of said wire.
 13. A device as recited in claim 12 inwhich said indexing means includes at least one pin projecting outwardlyfrom said one end of said body, the adjacent face of said rotatablemeans having a plurality of openings each of which is adapted to receivesaid pin in a predetermined rotational position of said rotatable means,and resilient means biasing said rotatable means toward said one end ofsaid body for normally holding said pin in one of said openings in saidrotatable means.
 14. A device as recited in claim 13 in which there arefour of said first threaded members and four of said second threadedmembers for providing a substantially large range of adjustments.
 15. Adevice as recited in claim 14 including in addition a tube positionablein said opening in said body for supporting wires of relatively smallsizes.
 16. A device as recited in claim 15 in which said tube includes asegment projecting outwardly from said one end of said body and oppositefrom said blade for enhancing the support provided by said tube.